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Polar Dream
An autobiographical account of the then fifty-year-old author's solo, twenty-seven-day, 345-mile trek--on skis and with a husky named Charlie--to the North Pole and her confrontations with polar bears, ice floes, storms, and fear. 40,000 first printing. Tour.
254 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1992
22 people are currently reading
619 people want to read
About the author
Helen Thayer
11 books19 followersIn 1988 New Zealand born Helen Thayer became the first woman to walk and ski to any of the world's poles when she trekked solo to the Magnetic North Pole without dog sled or snowmobile. She was the first woman and first American to circumnavigate the Magnetic North Pole. Her best-selling book Polar Dream tells the story of her historic adventure with her beloved companion Charlie, her protector from the ever constant threat of polar bear attack. Helen has gone on to explore far corners of the world.
Best selling author, international speaker, National Geographic
explorer, gifted story teller and motivator.
Best selling author, international speaker, National Geographic
explorer, gifted story teller and motivator.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 92 reviews
October 21, 2015
“About twenty feet in front of the iceberg, Charlie stopped, and began growling loudly, his back hair standing on end. I had no doubt that it was a bear. I tore my skis off, unclipped the sled ropes from my harness, grabbed the rifle and flare gun and stood waiting with Charlie at my side still clipped to my harness. He was at the end of his chain, snarling, staring straight at the wall of ice. Every nerve in my body was tense.”
When Helen Thayer, a New Zealand born adventurer and explorer, undertook an expedition in 1988 to the North Magnetic Pole, one of the most challenging terrains on our planet, it was an epic solo attempt – the first by a woman and one conducted without any re-supply schedules – conducted solely on foot, which required even the last iota of physical and mental endurance for her to successfully complete. ‘Polar Dream’ brings to the reader all the glory and grit from this heroic journey conducted by Helen and Charlie – a big, sturdy, black Canadian Eskimo dog – in fine detail.
A scene from North Pole
The visuals of extreme harshness of the Artic weather conditions, its treacherous terrains, pangs of loneliness, examples of intense human stamina, dangerous encounters with polar bears, are all brought to the reader with a highly engaging textual rendering by Helen within this book. In the severe Polar conditions Helen often found herself getting maddeningly far away from the civilization and in such situations she found inspiration and love from Charlie, who through his acts of trust, care and bravery saves her life and sanity a multitude of times, and these descriptions of the warm bond between the explorer and her guide dog is one of the main highlight of ‘Polar Dream’.
The idea of the Epic Expedition
Helen Thayer, born in New Zealand in 1937, was always an adventurer in her life and her exposure to outdoor adventure started at a very young age of nine, when her parent took her on a mountain climbing trip to Mount Taranaki. In the initial days of her career, she was very active in outdoor competitions and went on winning many National Championships, but her ‘true inner voice’ asked her to ‘compete against herself’ and she started concentrating more on expeditions and mountaineering. After a string of mountaineering projects across the globe, she decided to tackle the polar challenge and the support of her husband, Bill, added to the prospect of such a polar adventure.
To understand the North Magnetic Pole she consulted with a number of scientists who in turn gave her insights into the concept and general conditions of Earth’s Northern Hemisphere. North Magnetic Pole is not a precise location on the map or the earth’s surface, but an average position that is constantly in motion in a jagged elliptical path along a clockwise direction due to magnetic changes in Earth’s core.
Starkad, the legendary hero from Norse mythology, from the part of the map depicting the vague locations of magnetic north; taken from 'Carta Marina' drawn by Olaus Magnus circa, 1530s.
From the early days, European navigators believed that compass needles were attracted to a 'magnetic island' somewhere in the far north. It was the English natural philosopher William Gilbert, who proposed that the Earth itself acts as a giant magnet and the North Magnetic Pole is a point where the Earth's magnetic field points vertically downwards. All over the world the compass is used for navigational purposes as it points the North Magnetic Pole, but in the Polar area, compass is totally unpredictable as the lack of horizontal magnetic pull makes the compass arrow behave erratically.
At the time of the intended expedition in 1988, Helen finds from scientists that the North Magnetic Pole was situated in the barren ice covered lands south of ‘King Christian Island’ in the Northwest Territories of Northern Canada, almost 800 miles north of the Artic Circle. With this information Helen decides to start the expedition from Resolute Bay, an Inuit village on Cornwallis Island and from there to proceed to Little Cornwallis Island, which is an outpost with zinc mines and the last point of human inhabitation in the intended route of her journey.
View over Resolute Bay to the Inuit Settlement Village [Source]
From this outpost in Little Cornwallis, Helen had to traverse about 350 miles through extremely difficult terrain covered in a string of islands and sea ice and thriving with artic foxes, polar bears, seals with the ever present prospect of meeting with extreme dangers in the form of ice cracks in the sea ice and hurricane force winds. She decides to conduct the whole expedition on foot and skis, without any snowmobiles or dog teams and carrying just enough supplies to last 40 days, with the supplies stored in a sled pulled by herself and without any in-between supply schedules. To meet the highly demanding physical and mental strength required for such a journey, she undergoes a regime of intense endurance training sessions.
The Journey begins
In March 1988, as planned she begins her expedition from Resolute Bay, with the ‘International Explorers Home’ there as her sole point of contact through radio during the entire length of the journey. She also receives some primer training in surviving artic conditions from an Inuit hunter, who gives her ‘Charlie’ the Eskimo husky as a protection for her against polar bears. After acquiring all the supplies for herself and Charlie, she heads on to the mining outpost at Little Cornwallis.
In the land of Nanuk
The Inuit call the Polar bear Nanuk and through out the journey from the mining outpost Helen and Charlie had to traverse through the domain of this mighty beautiful hunter and some of the encounters they have with the bears are really spine tingling to read. In the initial phases of the journey we can see Helen going through emotional turmoil over the harsh surroundings and the prison like loneliness and she often questions her decision for taking up such a huge challenge. Charlie transforms the prospects for her, as he was the prime beacon of trust and care that led her way and through reasoning and presence of mind, she conquers her fear.
A Polar bear mother and cub
On the first day of the journey itself Helen finds the true meaning of the harshness of the Polar conditions as 40kmph wind and –45 degree temperatures (further lowered by the windchill factor) gives her blistered hands with the prospect of frostbite. On the second day they have their first polar bear encounter and the high tension descriptions of Helen and Charlie trying to scare the bear away will make the reader experience the chillness of the artic atmosphere. The ferociousness of Charlie and the valuable lessons that she learned on survival from the Inuit hunters comes to her rescue in numerous such encounters that they face further along the length of their journey.
Helen and Charlie braving through harsh polar terrains [Source]
Helen describes each moment from the journey with a clear focus and clarity and the taut style of the narrative always keeps the excitement factor up for the reader. Each of the breath taking incidents – like the blood curdling encounter they have with a full grown male bear at the ‘Polar Bear Pass’, in Bathurst Island; Helen and Charlie getting trapped in a howling snow storm for the entire length of two days; the team surviving nerve wrecking experience of finding themselves in terrain threatened to swallow them with the formation of ear-splitting ice fissures; resorting to a sun-shadowdial after the compass becoming non-dependable for navigating; Helen getting injured in the eye and they losing their provisions in a storm and braving against thirst and hunger through sheer perseverance at the final phase of the journey - strengthens the attachment between the dog and the explorer and the descriptions of the scenery and animals will immerse the reader in the adventures of Helen and Charlie.
The successful completion of this epic journey after 27 days and 360 odd miles earned Helen Thayer the name of "One of the Great Explorers of the 20th Century" along with a string of other accomplishments. And ‘Polar Dream’ which brings this travel/ adventure/ expedition through captivating narration is definitely one of those books, which can inspire the reader with crystal like reflections of extreme human endurance. Reading about the way in which Charlie, the tough Inuit dog, returns the affection and warmth shown by Helen through his love and trust is most heartwarming. The narrative is further enriched with some quality photographs taken by Helen. Recommended for lovers of real-life adventures and nature/ travel narratives.
When Helen Thayer, a New Zealand born adventurer and explorer, undertook an expedition in 1988 to the North Magnetic Pole, one of the most challenging terrains on our planet, it was an epic solo attempt – the first by a woman and one conducted without any re-supply schedules – conducted solely on foot, which required even the last iota of physical and mental endurance for her to successfully complete. ‘Polar Dream’ brings to the reader all the glory and grit from this heroic journey conducted by Helen and Charlie – a big, sturdy, black Canadian Eskimo dog – in fine detail.
A scene from North Pole
The visuals of extreme harshness of the Artic weather conditions, its treacherous terrains, pangs of loneliness, examples of intense human stamina, dangerous encounters with polar bears, are all brought to the reader with a highly engaging textual rendering by Helen within this book. In the severe Polar conditions Helen often found herself getting maddeningly far away from the civilization and in such situations she found inspiration and love from Charlie, who through his acts of trust, care and bravery saves her life and sanity a multitude of times, and these descriptions of the warm bond between the explorer and her guide dog is one of the main highlight of ‘Polar Dream’.
The idea of the Epic Expedition
Helen Thayer, born in New Zealand in 1937, was always an adventurer in her life and her exposure to outdoor adventure started at a very young age of nine, when her parent took her on a mountain climbing trip to Mount Taranaki. In the initial days of her career, she was very active in outdoor competitions and went on winning many National Championships, but her ‘true inner voice’ asked her to ‘compete against herself’ and she started concentrating more on expeditions and mountaineering. After a string of mountaineering projects across the globe, she decided to tackle the polar challenge and the support of her husband, Bill, added to the prospect of such a polar adventure.
To understand the North Magnetic Pole she consulted with a number of scientists who in turn gave her insights into the concept and general conditions of Earth’s Northern Hemisphere. North Magnetic Pole is not a precise location on the map or the earth’s surface, but an average position that is constantly in motion in a jagged elliptical path along a clockwise direction due to magnetic changes in Earth’s core.
Starkad, the legendary hero from Norse mythology, from the part of the map depicting the vague locations of magnetic north; taken from 'Carta Marina' drawn by Olaus Magnus circa, 1530s.
From the early days, European navigators believed that compass needles were attracted to a 'magnetic island' somewhere in the far north. It was the English natural philosopher William Gilbert, who proposed that the Earth itself acts as a giant magnet and the North Magnetic Pole is a point where the Earth's magnetic field points vertically downwards. All over the world the compass is used for navigational purposes as it points the North Magnetic Pole, but in the Polar area, compass is totally unpredictable as the lack of horizontal magnetic pull makes the compass arrow behave erratically.
At the time of the intended expedition in 1988, Helen finds from scientists that the North Magnetic Pole was situated in the barren ice covered lands south of ‘King Christian Island’ in the Northwest Territories of Northern Canada, almost 800 miles north of the Artic Circle. With this information Helen decides to start the expedition from Resolute Bay, an Inuit village on Cornwallis Island and from there to proceed to Little Cornwallis Island, which is an outpost with zinc mines and the last point of human inhabitation in the intended route of her journey.
View over Resolute Bay to the Inuit Settlement Village [Source]
From this outpost in Little Cornwallis, Helen had to traverse about 350 miles through extremely difficult terrain covered in a string of islands and sea ice and thriving with artic foxes, polar bears, seals with the ever present prospect of meeting with extreme dangers in the form of ice cracks in the sea ice and hurricane force winds. She decides to conduct the whole expedition on foot and skis, without any snowmobiles or dog teams and carrying just enough supplies to last 40 days, with the supplies stored in a sled pulled by herself and without any in-between supply schedules. To meet the highly demanding physical and mental strength required for such a journey, she undergoes a regime of intense endurance training sessions.
The Journey begins
In March 1988, as planned she begins her expedition from Resolute Bay, with the ‘International Explorers Home’ there as her sole point of contact through radio during the entire length of the journey. She also receives some primer training in surviving artic conditions from an Inuit hunter, who gives her ‘Charlie’ the Eskimo husky as a protection for her against polar bears. After acquiring all the supplies for herself and Charlie, she heads on to the mining outpost at Little Cornwallis.
In the land of Nanuk
The Inuit call the Polar bear Nanuk and through out the journey from the mining outpost Helen and Charlie had to traverse through the domain of this mighty beautiful hunter and some of the encounters they have with the bears are really spine tingling to read. In the initial phases of the journey we can see Helen going through emotional turmoil over the harsh surroundings and the prison like loneliness and she often questions her decision for taking up such a huge challenge. Charlie transforms the prospects for her, as he was the prime beacon of trust and care that led her way and through reasoning and presence of mind, she conquers her fear.
A Polar bear mother and cub
On the first day of the journey itself Helen finds the true meaning of the harshness of the Polar conditions as 40kmph wind and –45 degree temperatures (further lowered by the windchill factor) gives her blistered hands with the prospect of frostbite. On the second day they have their first polar bear encounter and the high tension descriptions of Helen and Charlie trying to scare the bear away will make the reader experience the chillness of the artic atmosphere. The ferociousness of Charlie and the valuable lessons that she learned on survival from the Inuit hunters comes to her rescue in numerous such encounters that they face further along the length of their journey.
Helen and Charlie braving through harsh polar terrains [Source]
Helen describes each moment from the journey with a clear focus and clarity and the taut style of the narrative always keeps the excitement factor up for the reader. Each of the breath taking incidents – like the blood curdling encounter they have with a full grown male bear at the ‘Polar Bear Pass’, in Bathurst Island; Helen and Charlie getting trapped in a howling snow storm for the entire length of two days; the team surviving nerve wrecking experience of finding themselves in terrain threatened to swallow them with the formation of ear-splitting ice fissures; resorting to a sun-shadowdial after the compass becoming non-dependable for navigating; Helen getting injured in the eye and they losing their provisions in a storm and braving against thirst and hunger through sheer perseverance at the final phase of the journey - strengthens the attachment between the dog and the explorer and the descriptions of the scenery and animals will immerse the reader in the adventures of Helen and Charlie.
The successful completion of this epic journey after 27 days and 360 odd miles earned Helen Thayer the name of "One of the Great Explorers of the 20th Century" along with a string of other accomplishments. And ‘Polar Dream’ which brings this travel/ adventure/ expedition through captivating narration is definitely one of those books, which can inspire the reader with crystal like reflections of extreme human endurance. Reading about the way in which Charlie, the tough Inuit dog, returns the affection and warmth shown by Helen through his love and trust is most heartwarming. The narrative is further enriched with some quality photographs taken by Helen. Recommended for lovers of real-life adventures and nature/ travel narratives.
January 5, 2016
On the one hand I have to admire the author for taking up and completing her personal challenge but on the other hand I think it was irresponsible to take on such a dangerous endeavor by herself.
Even though I don't read memoirs very often, this was a little outside of my comfort zone, I did enjoy her writing about her expedition. Between polar bears, white outs and thin ice, I spent quite a bit of the book on the edge of my seat.
I would read more books by this author.
Even though I don't read memoirs very often, this was a little outside of my comfort zone, I did enjoy her writing about her expedition. Between polar bears, white outs and thin ice, I spent quite a bit of the book on the edge of my seat.
I would read more books by this author.
June 10, 2018
I'm always amazed by people who criticize adventurers and ask, "WHY did you do this thing??" There isn't always an answer, and if there is one, it's usually because the adventurer wanted to prove it could be done. What are the limits of human endurance? Helen Thayer has spent her life climbing the highest peaks on three continents, and during every expedition her compass pointed to magnetic north. Always curious about the magnetic north pole, in 1988 she became the first person to travel there alone.
Thayer is a fascinating woman, and I'm even more fascinated to learn that as of June 2018, she is still alive at the age of 80. She built in many safety features for her trip to the North Pole, including taking extra food and checking in with a base camp by radio every night with her exact location. Thanks to modern technology, she would not face the same fate as so many in the Arctic North.
But this isn't just a recitation of the frightening encounters with polar bears or her brush with starvation or the many storms she weathered in her 27 days on the ice. It's also a love story between a woman and a dog, an Inuit canine she had bought just before she left on her expedition. Thanks to Charlie, she was able to survive those polar bear encounters, as he seemed able to differentiate between a hostile polar bear and one who was merely curious. He also defended her when the bears would come too close, and rarely would a polar bear attempt to breach Charlie's boundaries. Charlie also gave her someone to talk to, someone to commiserate with, someone to pass the time with. He may not have been human, but he helped keep her sane throughout the long polar days.
Thayer's writing style is clear and engaging, which came as a pleasant surprise. Had I had more uninterrupted reading time, I could have finished this book in an afternoon.
Highly recommended.
Thayer is a fascinating woman, and I'm even more fascinated to learn that as of June 2018, she is still alive at the age of 80. She built in many safety features for her trip to the North Pole, including taking extra food and checking in with a base camp by radio every night with her exact location. Thanks to modern technology, she would not face the same fate as so many in the Arctic North.
But this isn't just a recitation of the frightening encounters with polar bears or her brush with starvation or the many storms she weathered in her 27 days on the ice. It's also a love story between a woman and a dog, an Inuit canine she had bought just before she left on her expedition. Thanks to Charlie, she was able to survive those polar bear encounters, as he seemed able to differentiate between a hostile polar bear and one who was merely curious. He also defended her when the bears would come too close, and rarely would a polar bear attempt to breach Charlie's boundaries. Charlie also gave her someone to talk to, someone to commiserate with, someone to pass the time with. He may not have been human, but he helped keep her sane throughout the long polar days.
Thayer's writing style is clear and engaging, which came as a pleasant surprise. Had I had more uninterrupted reading time, I could have finished this book in an afternoon.
Highly recommended.
December 8, 2011
I wish I liked this book more, because the subject, and Thayer's adventures on a solo trek to the magnetic North Pole are really quite exciting. Personally, I thought the writing, though easy and very clear, was just kind of dull. The adventures were good (she encountered a lot of aggressive polar bears, and some scary blizzard conditions), I think I just didn't like Thayer's writing style.
Also, I simply cannot relate to these people who set out to nearly kill themselves on some unbelievably difficult task (particularly in the snow). A solo excursion to the north pole? Seriously? Brrrrrrr!!!! And talk about lonely. If she hadn't decided at the very last minute to take a dog with her, Thayer definitely would NOT have made it back. I can certainly see why others would love this book, though. And it does inspire one to try hard things (just not this :-). It made for an interesting book group discussion about the moral reasonableness of taking on near impossible tasks. And the things Thayer learned about herself, her relationship to her dog Charlie, and her relationship to nature were very interesting.
Also, I simply cannot relate to these people who set out to nearly kill themselves on some unbelievably difficult task (particularly in the snow). A solo excursion to the north pole? Seriously? Brrrrrrr!!!! And talk about lonely. If she hadn't decided at the very last minute to take a dog with her, Thayer definitely would NOT have made it back. I can certainly see why others would love this book, though. And it does inspire one to try hard things (just not this :-). It made for an interesting book group discussion about the moral reasonableness of taking on near impossible tasks. And the things Thayer learned about herself, her relationship to her dog Charlie, and her relationship to nature were very interesting.
August 30, 2020
What an amazing woman!
October 16, 2024
Update: Wertung von 3 auf 4 Sterne erhöht, weil mir auch 8 Monate später die Geschichte nicht aus dem Kopf geht
Die Expedition und diese Frau verdienen 5/5 Sternen.
Eine 50jährige Frau, die zu Fuß mit einem Husky zur Begleitung als erste Frau zum Nordpol wandert.
Helen Thayer erzählt von einer unglaublichen Wanderung, unvorstellbaren Strapazen und unwirklichen arktischen Landschaften. Eisbären, Stürme, Kälte, Verletzungen inklusive.
Meine Arktis-Faszination ist begeistert davon - der Schreibstil war allerdings für solch ein Abenteuer eher langsam vor sich hin plätschernd. Gar nicht schlecht, aber aus dieser biografischen Erzählung könnte noch so viel mehr gemacht werden.
Die Expedition und diese Frau verdienen 5/5 Sternen.
Eine 50jährige Frau, die zu Fuß mit einem Husky zur Begleitung als erste Frau zum Nordpol wandert.
Helen Thayer erzählt von einer unglaublichen Wanderung, unvorstellbaren Strapazen und unwirklichen arktischen Landschaften. Eisbären, Stürme, Kälte, Verletzungen inklusive.
Meine Arktis-Faszination ist begeistert davon - der Schreibstil war allerdings für solch ein Abenteuer eher langsam vor sich hin plätschernd. Gar nicht schlecht, aber aus dieser biografischen Erzählung könnte noch so viel mehr gemacht werden.
September 30, 2023
Ripped through this in a few days, very direct read.
Books like this make me wonder why we set such apparently arbitrary goals and what we’re staving off (or maybe gaining) by putting all of our focus into such benchmarks.
Maybe my perspective of “needing a purpose” is taking things too seriously, Thayer fucking lived in the Arctic alone for a month!! Maybe we don’t need “purposes” behind doing stuff we enjoy, even if the stuff we enjoy is what almost kills us over and over.
Books like this make me wonder why we set such apparently arbitrary goals and what we’re staving off (or maybe gaining) by putting all of our focus into such benchmarks.
Maybe my perspective of “needing a purpose” is taking things too seriously, Thayer fucking lived in the Arctic alone for a month!! Maybe we don’t need “purposes” behind doing stuff we enjoy, even if the stuff we enjoy is what almost kills us over and over.
June 19, 2014
Oh those hardy, intrepid Kiwi women! My favorite parts of this book are the descriptions of the polar bears, the ice formations, and Thayer's moments of introspection/questioning why she did things like trekking off to the North Pole at age 50, alone except for a husky named Charlie. The writing itself is a bit rough and I almost would have preferred a diary/journal entry format.
July 17, 2022
A new favourite person and author!
September 27, 2020
This was a keeper and glad I own it. She keeps you entirely interested with her adventures.
Plus entertaining, she educates also.
Plus entertaining, she educates also.
December 13, 2008
I could not put this book down...which is rare for me!! When I learned that Helen Thayer would be coming to SGS to talk to us about her life adventures, I thought I'd better check her out. This story about her solo trek - on foot and on skis - to the magnetic North Pole is more than a page-turner. It's a scream out loud kind of book! Almost as an after thought, Helen decided to heed to warnings of the Inuit natives who told her she'd become polar bear appetizers within her first day if she didn't take a Husky with her...so we're introduced to "Charlie" - the 93 pound, coal black Inuit sled dog who saves her life on a daily basis and becomes her dearest friend. I CANNOT wait to meet and experience Helen Thayer when she visits. In the meantime, as many of you as possible should try to read this book. I have two more by her, and will jump into them next! What an amazing woman!!!
August 21, 2014
I loved this book! It was like Lost in the Barrens, but non-fiction and for adults. Thayer, an accomplished mountaineer, gets the idea to walk to the North Pole after she returns safely back to base camp because she had obsessively written compass headings down as she climbed the mountain. On her solo journey to the pole, she encounters polar bears, cracking ice, winds that steal her gear, and accidents but throughout, she and her dog Charlie are indomitable. While reading most adventure stories, I have the occasional thought of "oh, that sounds like fun", but there is no way I would try to emulate the author.
Since her solo journey to the North Pole at age 50, she has walked across both the Sahara and Gobi Deserts, kayaked 2,200 miles in the Amazon, and lived in a wolf den for 6 months, generally accompanied by her husband.
Since her solo journey to the North Pole at age 50, she has walked across both the Sahara and Gobi Deserts, kayaked 2,200 miles in the Amazon, and lived in a wolf den for 6 months, generally accompanied by her husband.
February 28, 2015
It took a while for me to get into it; it's a style of writing that doesn't usually draw me in. But I'm interested in frozen regions so I kept going, and it paid off. There are a few places that I raced to see what would happen next, some places when I wanted to scream at her. A good book shakes you up, one way or the other, and this did that.
If you read this edition, skip the map in front. It's full of spoilers, which I find very annoying. I wanted to look at a map the whole time, but not that one. I wish there was a blank one in front, and an annotated one at the end of the book. I'd look for a different edition, if you have the option.
I want to know if I've run across any of her work in any of my textbooks.
If you read this edition, skip the map in front. It's full of spoilers, which I find very annoying. I wanted to look at a map the whole time, but not that one. I wish there was a blank one in front, and an annotated one at the end of the book. I'd look for a different edition, if you have the option.
I want to know if I've run across any of her work in any of my textbooks.
February 26, 2012
I have seen Thayer talk a few times and have huge admiration for her accomplishments. I enjoy reading about her journeys, but I didn't completely enjoy this book since she seems to give a day by day account rather than just highlighting the exciting parts. Her approaching to reporting probably gives a better sense of the expedition, but it gets repetitive and boring at times.
April 30, 2020
An amazing, grippy tale of the advantages of traversing the magnetic north pole. I couldn't put the book down as she told her tale of braving polar bears, artic storms, (without a tent), crevasses that sink into dark freezing waters, frost bite and the loss of her food and water on the last leg of the trip. The mental challenges of the terrain and the loneliness were as fascinating as the physical ones. I felt that I learned a lot about my own emotional turmoil by reading of her ordeal. Her lessons became my lessons, (in a much easier manner for me). I loved this book so much that I got an autographed copy to add to my collection.
August 19, 2018
Oh man, this was a book with my name written all over it. A woman doing a solo adventure in the extreme wilderness of the world, a trusty dog companion, bears, incredible landscapes...and it's all true?! I really wanted this to be my next favorite book, and while I thoroughly enjoyed it, the writing doesn't stand up quite as well to some of my absolute favorites. I had a harder time envisioning what she was seeing than is usual for me. And while Thayer clearly respects Inuits, there is a subtle bias towards her own culture being the 'right' way that irked me a few times.
August 28, 2025
Interesting historical memoir with many astonishing, funny and agonizing anecdotes.
It is told chronologically with the daily repetitions of putting up tent, eating, skiing etc.
I would have liked more reflection or more musings on the author's inner life. But I guess in the 1980s memoirs weren't structured like that.
It is told chronologically with the daily repetitions of putting up tent, eating, skiing etc.
I would have liked more reflection or more musings on the author's inner life. But I guess in the 1980s memoirs weren't structured like that.
January 28, 2021
I have to give this woman a lot of credit. I don't think I could have spent an hour under the demanding weather conditions that she did for 27 days. Charlie taught her how invaluable dogs are, but I already knew that.
February 15, 2022
The closest I’ll get to walking ~350 miles over a month to reach the North Pole. At age 50, Helen Thayer did it solo. She’s a beast. I’m thankful she survived the nail-biting moments, and even more thankful she shared it day by day.
November 28, 2023
This book was a page turned for me. While visiting San Diego I found it in a little library near my friend’s house. It was easy to read and kept me on the edge of my seat.
Helen is a force of nature.
Helen is a force of nature.
June 22, 2017
A very impressive woman.
September 12, 2017
Bellissima storia, soprattutto pensando che è vera. Un libro da leggere assolutamente. Complimenti all'autrice e protagonista di questa spettacolare esperienza.
January 4, 2018
While I don’t have - or understand - the drive to do things like this, I am in awe of those who do.
April 28, 2018
I love a hero-dog story above all things. I'm so envious of Helen Thayer's cock-eyed optimism and ability to absolutely believe in herself.
September 30, 2018
Incredible story of daring and survival, accomplished with the aid of her husky.
July 31, 2019
Loved it!
June 22, 2020
Much to long with lots of the same things said over and over. The highlight is Charley the dog.
October 24, 2020
INCREDIBLE
November 22, 2020
A wonderful adventure with a very good dog.
January 22, 2022
Great book that held my attention. I read all of it in less than a week. Very admirable lady.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 92 reviews